Gun



C. H. FROELICH ET AL March 16 1926 GUN Filed March 15 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS 0141-6120; 17. iioakkfi/ JMlZle BY MM;

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

units CLARENCE HEBVY FROELECEZ,

OE BETELEH'EHI, AND EAR-L J HELLER, OF VIARREN,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS T0 BETHLEHEM STEEL COM'EANY.

GUN.

Application filed March 15, 1924; Serial No. 699,434.

T (15. 21.2 1.01. 2. it may concern:

it known that we, CLARENCE H. Fnon- EARL J. MILLER, citizens of the r Wes, and residing, respectively, at Bethlehem, Elorthampton County, State of Pennsylvania, and at lVarrenfiVarren County, State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guns, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to guns and it has an object to provide improved recoil mechanism for use between a gun tube and a support or carriage.

More particularly our invention has for object to provide hydraulic and spring n'ieans to absorb the energy of recoil of a n un tube together with reliable and effective pneumatic dampening means for checking counter recoil.

It further object of our invention is to provide improved supporting means for a gun tube together with aconnecting device between the gun tube and the movable recoil element.

Apparatus made in accordance with our inrention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this applica tion. in which igure 1 is a plan view of our improved m t l rt:

Figure T a sectional view taken along the line VllVIl of Figure 3.

eiterring now to the drawings more in detail for a better understanding of our nrent ion, in Figures 1 and 2, we show a gun carriage, at 10, upon which is" mounted recoil mechani n, at 11, the latter carryinga gun tube, at

cylinder or cradle member 17 havingan interlocking; guide connection with respect to e barre-l 11021.9 8. i the seas sf th n,

The recoil mechanism includes an outer locking connection being comprised by a guideway 17 on the outer cylinder or cradle in which fits a supporting portion 18 of the barrel. An inner movable cylinder 19 is arranged within the outer cylinder 17 and it has an upwardlyextending joint portion 20 for connection to the joint portion 21 of the breech ring 22 ot' the gun tube. The joint member 20 is provided with longitudinal lateral flanges 23 which overlap flanges ill on the joint member 21, the'fianges on the two members cooperating to constitute an interlocking guide connection.

The joint portion 20 is provided with an abutment wall at its rear end which is adapted to fit into a recess 26 in the joint portion 21 of the gun tube, the recess having); an abutment surface or shoulder a7 adapted to abut the wall 25 when the parts are in assembled relation. Recoil stresses are transmitted from the gun tube to the wall resulting in recoil movement of the gun tube and ot the inner recoil cylinder or nienr ber 19. As will be pointed out hereinafter, counter-recoil forces are transmitted from the wall 25 to the abutment surface or shoulder 27.

I The gun tube is held in place with the abutment surface 27 of the joint portion 21 in Contact with the abutment wall 25 of the joint portion 20, by any suitable latch or key means. For example, we show apparatus for this purpose such as disclosed and claimed in the application of Clarence H. Froelic-h, Serial No. 695,155, filed Feb. 26, 1924, such apparatus, in brief, consisting of a recess 29 extending longitudinally of the bottom of the joint portion 21 and having spiral threads 30 adapted toengage with the mutilated threaded portion 31 oi the shaft 32 journalled in the. lower joint member 2O, The shaft 32 is turned by a handle 33, When the gun tube is to be removed or placed in position, the shaft 32 is turned to disengage the threads, whereupon the tube is free to be slid on or oil.

The outer recoil cylinder or cradlel? is open at the top at the rearend and it is orm d a a ushered gu de p r ite ie joi por 0 1 20 ofin e mo ab e oi -cyl n 9- T he hydraulic dampening orchecking. ap paratus of the recoil mechanism includes astationary' piston '35 carried by a red- 36 ept ll Tg' sash-e glands? at the? fu -was end of the inner cylinder and being connected to the forward closure member 38 for the outer cylinder 17 The rear end of the irner cylinder is closed. Longitudinal grooves 39 extend from the rear end of the inner cylinder, diminish in cross-sectional area at 40 toward their forward ends and terrnina-te in the cylindrical portion 41 at an intermediate pomt of the inner cylinder. The

inner cylinder 19 is filled with any suitable but also by a spring device 43 arranged between the forward end of the inner cylinder and the piston 35 This spring device absorbs and stores a portion of the energy of recoil for the purpose'of moving the inner cylinder and gun tube back to normal position after recoil. lVe show the spring device as comprised by inner spring sections 44 and 45 which are spaced by an intermediate spacing member 46 having a slight clearance with respect to the rod 36 and the inner cylinder 19. Making the spring insections is advantageous from the standpoints of manufacture, assembly, and operation. With the spring device made in sections, buckling is reduced; and the centralized seating and spacing member 46 resists latoral displacement of the springs.

We utilize air to dampen or check counterrecoil movement. To this end, the outer cylinder 17 is provided near its forward port or passage 47 and with a main air admission passage 48 disposed rearwardly of the passage 47 and near the end of the recoil stroke of the inner cylinder 19. Upon recoil movement,

the inner cylinder first uncovers the pas sage 4? and air flows lnto the expansrble chamber in the outer cylinder between the forward end of the latter and the forward end of the inner cylinder. However, due tothe small SlZG of the port 4!, pressure in the eXpansible chamber continues at a low point until the inner piston passes over the admission port .or passage 48, whereupon "air rushes into the outer cylinder, filling the expansible chamber, this result being assisted by the pause necessarilyoccurring at the end of the recoil stroke and the beginning of th-e counter-recoil stroke. t will be understood that, while we show onethrottling port, any number of "ports'of suitable sizes Cushioning of the counter-recoil is also assisted by the cylinder 49 carried by the closure 50 for the forward end of the cylinder and extending within the outer cylinder 1'7. The inner cylinder 19 carries a piston portion 51 at its forward end of smaller diameter than the main portion of the inner cyl nder and adapted to fit the cylinder 49.

The piston portion 51 conveniently serves as a housing for the gland 37. The cylinder 49 and the piston 51 are preferably of such lengths that the piston 51 enters the cylinder 49 before the throttlin asszwe 47 is covered whereby air is impounded in the cylinder- 49 and serves to assist in cushioning the last stage of counter-recoil movement. 1

In addition to the throttled flow of air and the resulting pressure resisting counterrecoil movement, the latter is also checked by the passage of fluid through the grooves 39 from the rear to the front side of the piston 35.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised simple and effective recoil V and counter-recoil mechanism, the energy of recoil being absorbed by a spring device and by a hydraulic fluid check arrangement, the energy absorbed by the spring device being used after the recoil movement to return the gun tube and movable recoil element back to normal position. The inner and outer cylinders cooperate'as an aircheck, which, together with the hydraulic device, effectively checks and dampens counter-recoil movement. 7 It will also be seen that we have devised a simple and effective connection between the gun tube and the recoil mechanism.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: c.

1. In a gun, the combination of a cradle having a lower longitudinally extending outer cylinder, an inner cylinder fitting the bore of the outer cylinder, a gun tube, an interlocking guide connection between the upper side of the cradle and the lower side of the gun tube, means for connecting the breech end of the gun tube to the rear end of the inner, tube, and means carried by the outer tube and cooperating with the interior lUS masses 3 ner cylinder and fitting the rod, a piston carried by the rear end of the rod, and means for first restricting and then cutting oil the flow of fluid past the piston upon recoil.

movement of the inner cylinder.

3. In recoil mechanism for. agun, the combination of an outer supporting cylinder having a closed forward endfan inner cylinder having a closed rear end and adapted to contain. fluid, a rod carried by the outer cylinderand extending in the inner-cylinder to a pointnear the. closed end of the latter when the parts are in normal position, a gland carried by the forward end of the inner cylinder and fitting the rod, piston carried by the rear end of the rod,.and 1ongitudinal grooves extending from the rear portion of the inner cylinder and terminating at an intermediate region thereof.

i. In recoil mechanism for a gun, the coinbinat'ion of an outer supporting cylinder having a closed forward end, an inner .cyl inder fitting the bore of the outer cylinder and having a closed rearend and adapted to contain fluid, a rod carried by the outer cylinder and extending in the: inner cylinder to a point near the closed end of the latter when the parts are in normal position, a gland carried by the forward end of the inner cylinder and fitting the rod, a piston carried by the rear end of the rod, means for restricting the passage of fluid past the piston upon movement of the inner cylinder, spring means for resisting rearward movement of the inner cylinder, and pneumatic means for resisting and cushioning forward movement oi the inner cylinder.

In recoil mechanism for agun, the combination of an outer supporting cylinder having a closed forward end, an inner cylinder having a closed rear end and adapted to contain fluid, a rod carried by the outer cylinder and extending in the inner cylinder to a point near the closed end ot'the latter when the parts are in normal position, a

gland carried by the forward end of the inner cylinder and fitting the rod, a piston car ried by the; rear end of the rod, means tor restricting the passage of fluid past the pis ton. upon movement of the inner cylinder,

spring meansbetween the forward end of the inner cy inder and the piston, throb tling air. passage near the: forward end of th u er ylin er, and an an adhesion p ssage extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and disposed rcarwardly of the throttling passage.

.6. In recoil mechanism for a gun, the combination of an outer supporting cylinder having a closed forward end, an inner cylinder having a closed rear end and adapted to contain fluid, a rod carried by the outer cylinder andextending in the inner cylinder to a point near the closed end of the latter when the parts are in normal position, a gland carried by the forward end of the inner cylinder and fitting the rod, a piston carried by the rear end of the rod, longitudinal grooves extending from the rear portion of the inner cylinder. diminishing in cross-sectional area toward their forward ends, and terminating at an intermediate region of said inner cylinder, spring means between the forward end of the inner cylinder and the piston, a throttling port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and adapted to be covered by the inncr cylinder near the end or the counterrecoil stroke of the. latter, and an air admission port extendingdhrough the wall of the outer cylinder and adapted to be uncovered by the inner cylinder during its recoil movement.

7.111 recoil mechanism for a gun, the combination of an outer supporting cylinder having a closed forward end, an inner cylinder having a closed rear end and adapted to contain fluid, a rod carried by the outer cylinder and extending in the inner cylinder to a point near the closed end of the latter when the parts are in normal position, a gland carried by the forward end of the inner cylinder and ii ting the rod, a piston carried by the rear end of the rod, means for restricting the passage of fluid from one side to the other of the piston upon movement of the inner cylinder, a spring device consisting of spring sections with an inter mediate seat and spacing member having close clearance with respect to the inner cy inder and the rod, said spring device being interposed between the piston and the inner cylinder, and means for pneumatically cushioning counter-recoil. movements of the inner cylinder.

8. In recoil mechanism for a gun, the combination of an outer supporting cylinder having a closed forward end, an inner cylinder having a closed rear end and adapted to contain fluid, a rod carried by the outer cylinder and extending in the iu ner cylinder to a; point near the closed end of the latter when the parts are in normal position, a gland carried by the "forward end of the inner cylinder and fitting the rod, :1 piston. carried by the rear end ofthe rod, means for restricting the passage of fluid from one side to the other of the piston upon movement at the nner y d a loo lit)

lid)

spring device consisting of spring sections with an intermediate seat and spacing memher, said spring device being interposed be-' tween the piston and the inner cylinder, and means for pneumatically cushioning counter-recoil movements of the inner cylinder.

9. In recoil mechanism for a gun, the combination of a supporting outer cylinder having a main cylindrical bore portion and a bore portion of smaller diameter, an inner cylinder for attachment to a gun and having a main cylindrical portion fitting the main bore portion of the outer cylinder and a cylindrical portion of smaller diameter to fit the'snialler bore portion of the outer cylinder, a piston in the inner cylinder and connected to the outer cylinder, said inner cylinder adapted to contain fluid, means "for restricting the passage of fluid from :one side of the piston to the other upon movement of the inner cylinder, a spring device for resisting rearward movement of the iiiner cylinder, a throttling passage extending through the wall of the outer cylinder near the forward end of the main cylindrical bore portion, and an air admission passage extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and disposed rearwardly of the throttling passage.

10. The combination, with a gun having a carriage and a gun tube, of recoil mecl1 anisni comprising an outer cylinder connected to the carriage, an inner cylinder fitting the bore of the outer cylinder and connected to the tube, a piston in the inner cylinder and connected to the forward end of the outer cylinder, means for restricting the flow of fluid from the front to the rear side of the piston upon rearward or recoil movement of the inner cylinder, means for returning the inner cylinder to normal positionai ter recoil movement, and means-dependent upon rearward movement of the ins ner cylinder relatively to the outer cylinder for admitting air to the interior space of the outer cylinder at the forward end of the inner cylinder for dampening return movement of the inner cylinder to normal position.

11. The combination, with a gun having a carriage and a gun tube, of recoil mechanism comprising an outer cylinder .connected to the carriage, an inner cylinder fitting the bore of the outer cylinder and connected tothe tube, a piston in the inner cylinder and connected to the forward end of.

theouter cylinder, a spring between the pi ton and the outer end ot' the inner cylinder,

means for restricting the flow of fluid from the front to the rear side of the piston upon recoil movement of the-inner cylinder, and means dependent upon rearward movement of the inner cylinder relatively to the outer cylinder for admitting air to -the interior space or" the outer cylinder at the forward end of the inner cylinder for dampening return movement of the inner cylinder to normal position.

12. A gun comprising a carriage, recoil mechanism including relatively stationary and movable elements, a gun tube, an inter-.

looking guide connection between the tubev the tube in place with respect to the Incv able element to prevent relative longitudinal movement there-between.

13. The combination, with a gun having acarriage and a gun tube provided with a joint memberat-its breech end, of recoil mechanism comprising an outer cylinder connected to the carriage, anointerlocking guide connection between the tube and the outer cylinder, an inner'cylinder within the outer cylinder and having a'joint member at the rear end thereof projectinglaterally from said outer cylinder, an interlocking guide connection between the joint members, abutment means carried by the joint members, and means for locking the tube in place with respect to said portion after the abutment means are engaged.

14. The combination, with a gun having a carriage and a gun tube provided with a joint member at its breech end, of recoil mechanism comprising a cylinder connected to the carriage, an interlocking guide connection between the tube and the outer cylinder, an inner cylinder within the outer cylinder and having a'joint member at the rear thereof pro ecting laterally from said I outer cylinder, an interlocking guide connection between the oint members, abutment means carried by the oint members for limiting rearward movement of the tube with respect to the inner cylinder to a predetermined extent, locking means carried by the joint members for locking them together after the abutment means are engaged, a piston in the inner cylinder and connected to the forward end of the outer cylinder, a spring between thepiston and the outer end of the inner cylinder, and means for restricting the flow of fluid :trointhe front to the rear side of the piston upon rearward movement of the inner cylinder.

15. The combination, with a gun having a carriageand a gun.tubc,-of recoil mecha nism comprising an outer cylinder connected tothecarriage, said outer cylinder having a main cylindrical bore portion and a forward cylindrical .bore portion of smaller diameter, an innertcylinder connected to the tube having a main cylindrical portion fitting the main cylindrical bore portion of the outer cylinder and a forward cylindrical portion of smaller diameter adapted to fit the cylindrical bore portion of the outer cylinder of smaller diameter, a piston in the inner cylinder and connected to the forward end of the outer cylinder, a spring bet-wee the piston and the outer end of the inner cylinder, means for restricting the flow of fluid from the front to the rear side of the piston upon recoil movement of the inner cylinder, a throttling port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder rearwardly of the cylindrical bore portion thereof of smaller diameter, and an air admission port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and disposed rearwardly of the throttling port and adapted to provide for the rapid filling of the outer cylinder forwardly of the inner cylinder upon being uncovered by the latter.

16. The combination, with a gun having a carriage and a gun tube, of recoil mechanism comprising an outer cylinder connected to the carriage, an interlocking guide connection between the outer cylinder and the gun tube, said outer cylinder having a main cylindrical bore portion and a bore portion a of smaller diameter at' its forward end, an

inner cylinder having a main portion fitting the main cylindrical bore portion of the outer cylinder and forward portion of smalL er diameter adapted to fit the cylindrical bore portion of the outer cylinder of smaller diameter, a lateral projection carried by the inner cylinder and extending above the outer cylinder, abutment means carried by the tube and adapted to abut said projection, an interlocking guide connection bet-ween the tube and said projection, locking means for bolding the tube in place with respect to sait projection with the abutment means in abut ment therewith, a piston in the inner cylinder and connected to the forward end of the outer cylinder, spring means between the piston and the outer end of the inner cylinder, means for first restricting and then cutting off the flow of fluid from the front to the rear side of the piston upon recoil movement of the inner cylinder, a throttling port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and spaced rearwardly from the bore portion thereof of smaller diameter a distance less than the length of the cylinder portion of smaller diameter of the inner cylinder, and an air admission port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and disposed rearwardly of the throttling port, said air admission adapted to be uncovered by the inner cylinder upon recoil movement of the latter in order to rapidly fill the resulting space between the cylinders with air.

17. The combination, with a gun having a carriage and a gun tube, of recoil mechanism comprising stationary and movable elements,

carriage and a gun tube, of recoil mechanism between the carriage and the tube including 'an outer cylinder connected to the carriage,

an inner cylinder connected to the tube, a rod connected to the outer cylinder and extending within the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the rod and fitting within the inner cylinder, a packing gland at the forward end of the inner cylinder and fitting the rod, spring means between the forward end of the inner cylinder and the piston, said inner cylinder having longitudinal grooves extending for a portion of the length thereof and diminishing in cross-sectional area toward their forward ends, a throttling port in the outer cylinder adapted to afford communication between the interior thereof and the atmosphere and spaced a sufficient distance rearwardly of the forward end thereof so as to be overlapped by the inner cylinder when the parts are in normal position and a large port in the outer cylinder and spaced rearwardly of the throttling port to permit the rapid filling of the outer cylinder with air when uncovered by the inner cylinder upon recoil.

19. A gun comprising a carriage, an outer cylinder carried by the carriage and having a closed forward end, an inner cylinder within the outer cylinder and having a closed rear end, a rod connected to the forward end of the outer cylinder and extending rearwardly within the inner cylinder, said inner cylinder having interior longitudinal grooves extending from the rear end thereof for a portion of the length of the inner cylinder and diminishing in depth toward the forward ends thereof, a piston carried by the rod and fitting the interior of the inner cylinder, a gland arranged between the forward end of the inner cylinder and the rod, spring means between the forward end of the inner cylinder and the piston, a throttling port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder near the forward end thereof and adapted to be overlapped by the inner cylinder when the parts are in normal position, a large port extending through the wall of the outer cylinder and spaced rearwardly of the throttling port and adapted to be uncovered by the inner cylinder upon recoil movement to provide for the outer cylinder being rapidly filled with air, an

interlocking guide connection between the I outereylinder and the tube, an overhanging tongue-and-slot connection between the tube In testimony thereof lhereunto afiix my signature this 12th day of February 1924;

CLARENCE HERVY FROELICH.

In testimony thereof I hereunto affix my signature this 10th day of March 1924.

EARL J. MILLER. 

